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Texas Senate Candidate James Talarico’s Controversial Remarks on Gender-Identity Parenting
By Drooid · · How we work
Talarico’s 2019 Committee Remarks
During a 2019 Texas Legislature committee hearing on HB 1910, Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico warned that parents who refuse to acknowledge a child’s gender identity could be engaging in “abusive” behavior. The clip resurfaced as Talarico seeks to position himself as a moderate on cultural issues.
Legislative Background and Subsequent Votes
HB 1910 sought to prevent courts from considering a parent’s refusal to affirm a child’s gender identity as evidence of child abuse in custody decisions. The original version died in committee, but a stronger version passed the Texas House and became law in May 2025. Talarico voted against that version, recording one of 59 nay votes.
Official Campaign Position
The campaign framed his opposition to the 2025 law as consistent with his broader effort to safeguard families.
Republican Criticism
The criticism positions Talarico’s remarks as extreme and out of step with Republican values on family and child protection.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I think there are some folks that would think that if you deny your child's gender identity, that's incredibly harmful. And whether or not we label it with the term abuse, it's abusive for sure,” — James Talarico, spokesperson
- “Some of us I think really do consider this abusive behavior… an unwillingness to identify, acknowledge a child's gender identity. We consider that abusive to the child, abusive and destructive,” — James Talarico, spokesperson
- “Only perverts and pedophiles think about what is in little kids' pants as much as James Talafreako. He is a truly sick individual for dedicating his life to pushing sex changes on other people's kids,” — Zach Kraft, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee (RNC)
- “James believes parents have the most important say in decisions about their children, which is why he sponsored a bill to protect parental rights and ensure parents are responsible for the upbringing of their own kids. While James has fought for Texas parents and families, Ken Paxton has endangered them by allowing pedophiles back on our streets,” — JT Ennis, a spokesperson for the Talarico campaign